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Started By
Message
Reassessing the Saints depth chart after first wave of roster cuts
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:17 am
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:17 am
SaintsWire
Quarterbacks (4)
#9 Drew Brees
#7 Taysom Hill
#2 Jameis Winston
#1 Tommy Stevens (rookie)
The first wave of roster cuts didn’t touch the quarterbacks room, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. Sean Payton made a bold draft-day trade to acquire Stevens for a reason, which is to see whether he can run, catch, and maybe block as well as Hill after having demoed that unique playbook for Joe Brady at Penn State back in the day. His roster spot is probably more secure than we’re giving it credit for.
Running backs (6)
#41 Alvin Kamara
#28 Latavius Murray
#24 Dwayne Washington
#88 Ty Montgomery Jr.
#37 Tony Jones Jr. (rookie)
#32 Michael Burton, fullback
Jones might have been considered a cut-candidate when the Saints started reviewing their roster, but for now it looks like he’ll have a real shot at displacing Washington behind Murray (Montgomery’s focus is on picking up Kamara’s playbook).
The real story here is how much of a non-story the fullback competition turned out to be. Burton had experience on his side, having spent last summer in New Orleans, and the Saints are happy to give him the keys at this early stage rather than keep Ortiz around to compete with him.
Tight ends (4)
#87 Jared Cook
#89 Josh Hill
#45 Garrett Griffin
#82 Adam Trautman (rookie)
The Saints had just two players opt out due to COVID-19 concerns, and they both play tight end. Neither Cole Wick (high-risk asthma condition) nor Jason Vander Laan (voluntary) will play in 2020, instead choosing to wait until 2021. That might end up being a savvy move; while Griffin has long odds of cracking the roster behind Cook, Hill, and third-round draft pick Trautman, Cook is entering a contract year. If he doesn’t re-sign in 2021, Wick and Vander Laan might have a better shot of making the team next summer.
Wide receivers (10)
#13 Michael Thomas
#17 Emmanuel Sanders
#11 Deonte Harris
#10 Tre’Quan Smith
#84 Lil’Jordan Humphrey
#18 Emmanuel Butler
#80 Austin Carr
#12 Marquez Callaway (rookie)
#83 Juwan Johnson (rookie)
## Bennie Fowler (number unassigned)
No position was thinned out more than receiver, where the Saints released three players, two of whom they knew very well. They also added Fowler, who has better wheels than anyone else on the roster (having timed the 40 yard dash in just 4.38 seconds at his 2014 pro day).
The Saints know that Thomas, Sander, and Harris will be on the opening-day roster. Smith is probably a sure thing, too. So that leaves just one or two spots available for the rest of the group to fight over. We’ll see if anyone remaining can separate themselves from the pack.
Offensive linemen (15)
#72 Terron Armstead, tackle
#75 Andrus Peat, guard/tackle
#78 Erik McCoy, center/guard
#51 Cesar Ruiz, center/guard (rookie)
#71 Ryan Ramczyk, tackle
#62 Nick Easton, guard/center
#64 Will Clapp, guard/center
#63 Cameron Tom, center/guard
#60 Patrick Omameh, guard/tackle
#73 Ethan Greenidge, tackle
#68 Derrick Kelly, tackle
#66 Calvin Throckmorton, tackle/guard (rookie)
#70 Jordan Steckler, tackle/guard (rookie)
#79 Darrin Paulo, tackle/guard (rookie)
## James Hurst, tackle/guard (number unassigned)
Unlike other groups where players typically have clear-cut roles and responsibilities, the Saints offensive line features many position-flexible talents. And that’s a great problem to have. If a rookie, for example, doesn’t impress at right tackle then he could be tried out instead at right guard — which bodes well for Throckmorton, Steckler, and Paulo in terms of making the roster. This is a very strong unit from top to bottom, so it may take some time for keepers to emerge outside the starting five.
Special teams (4)
#5 Thomas Morstead, punter
#4 Blake Gillikin, punter (rookie)
#3 Wil Lutz, kicker
#49 Zach Wood, snapper
It’s an odd choice to keep Gillikin around, unless the Saints are thinking Morstead may opt out of the 2020 season. He’s the longest-tenured player on the roster not named Brees, and has one of the team’s biggest young families waiting on him at home. While he’s planning to sequester himself at the team hotel during training camp, it’s going to be tough for him to be away from his family for so long, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Morstead decides it’s better to just punt on 2020 altogether.
On the other hand: maybe the Saints just want to limit Morstead’s work in camp, considering his age (34); there are only four punters older than him on rosters right now. Resting him for the season while giving Gillikin some much-needed practice film early in his career benefits everyone involved.
Quarterbacks (4)
#9 Drew Brees
#7 Taysom Hill
#2 Jameis Winston
#1 Tommy Stevens (rookie)
The first wave of roster cuts didn’t touch the quarterbacks room, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. Sean Payton made a bold draft-day trade to acquire Stevens for a reason, which is to see whether he can run, catch, and maybe block as well as Hill after having demoed that unique playbook for Joe Brady at Penn State back in the day. His roster spot is probably more secure than we’re giving it credit for.
Running backs (6)
#41 Alvin Kamara
#28 Latavius Murray
#24 Dwayne Washington
#88 Ty Montgomery Jr.
#37 Tony Jones Jr. (rookie)
#32 Michael Burton, fullback
Jones might have been considered a cut-candidate when the Saints started reviewing their roster, but for now it looks like he’ll have a real shot at displacing Washington behind Murray (Montgomery’s focus is on picking up Kamara’s playbook).
The real story here is how much of a non-story the fullback competition turned out to be. Burton had experience on his side, having spent last summer in New Orleans, and the Saints are happy to give him the keys at this early stage rather than keep Ortiz around to compete with him.
Tight ends (4)
#87 Jared Cook
#89 Josh Hill
#45 Garrett Griffin
#82 Adam Trautman (rookie)
The Saints had just two players opt out due to COVID-19 concerns, and they both play tight end. Neither Cole Wick (high-risk asthma condition) nor Jason Vander Laan (voluntary) will play in 2020, instead choosing to wait until 2021. That might end up being a savvy move; while Griffin has long odds of cracking the roster behind Cook, Hill, and third-round draft pick Trautman, Cook is entering a contract year. If he doesn’t re-sign in 2021, Wick and Vander Laan might have a better shot of making the team next summer.
Wide receivers (10)
#13 Michael Thomas
#17 Emmanuel Sanders
#11 Deonte Harris
#10 Tre’Quan Smith
#84 Lil’Jordan Humphrey
#18 Emmanuel Butler
#80 Austin Carr
#12 Marquez Callaway (rookie)
#83 Juwan Johnson (rookie)
## Bennie Fowler (number unassigned)
No position was thinned out more than receiver, where the Saints released three players, two of whom they knew very well. They also added Fowler, who has better wheels than anyone else on the roster (having timed the 40 yard dash in just 4.38 seconds at his 2014 pro day).
The Saints know that Thomas, Sander, and Harris will be on the opening-day roster. Smith is probably a sure thing, too. So that leaves just one or two spots available for the rest of the group to fight over. We’ll see if anyone remaining can separate themselves from the pack.
Offensive linemen (15)
#72 Terron Armstead, tackle
#75 Andrus Peat, guard/tackle
#78 Erik McCoy, center/guard
#51 Cesar Ruiz, center/guard (rookie)
#71 Ryan Ramczyk, tackle
#62 Nick Easton, guard/center
#64 Will Clapp, guard/center
#63 Cameron Tom, center/guard
#60 Patrick Omameh, guard/tackle
#73 Ethan Greenidge, tackle
#68 Derrick Kelly, tackle
#66 Calvin Throckmorton, tackle/guard (rookie)
#70 Jordan Steckler, tackle/guard (rookie)
#79 Darrin Paulo, tackle/guard (rookie)
## James Hurst, tackle/guard (number unassigned)
Unlike other groups where players typically have clear-cut roles and responsibilities, the Saints offensive line features many position-flexible talents. And that’s a great problem to have. If a rookie, for example, doesn’t impress at right tackle then he could be tried out instead at right guard — which bodes well for Throckmorton, Steckler, and Paulo in terms of making the roster. This is a very strong unit from top to bottom, so it may take some time for keepers to emerge outside the starting five.
Special teams (4)
#5 Thomas Morstead, punter
#4 Blake Gillikin, punter (rookie)
#3 Wil Lutz, kicker
#49 Zach Wood, snapper
It’s an odd choice to keep Gillikin around, unless the Saints are thinking Morstead may opt out of the 2020 season. He’s the longest-tenured player on the roster not named Brees, and has one of the team’s biggest young families waiting on him at home. While he’s planning to sequester himself at the team hotel during training camp, it’s going to be tough for him to be away from his family for so long, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Morstead decides it’s better to just punt on 2020 altogether.
On the other hand: maybe the Saints just want to limit Morstead’s work in camp, considering his age (34); there are only four punters older than him on rosters right now. Resting him for the season while giving Gillikin some much-needed practice film early in his career benefits everyone involved.
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 10:18 am
5
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:17 am to GMoney2600
Defensive ends (6)
#94 Cameron Jordan
#92 Marcus Davenport
#91 Trey Hendrickson
#97 Mario Edwards Jr.
#96 Carl Granderson
#69 Margus Hunt
Cumberlander was probably a long shot to make the team even before the Saints picked up Hunt in free agency, but the big veteran’s arrival shut the door on the rookie’s chances. Hunt will get to compete with Granderson and Edwards for snaps behind the top three ends, and his prototype size and extensive NFL experience might give him a leg up on the competition. The Saints have steadily cut down on Jordan’s snap counts in recent years, and Hunt would make sense as a go-to backup than the relatively-undersized Granderson or more-expensive Edwards.
Defensive tackles (6)
#93 David Onyemata
#98 Sheldon Rankins
#99 Shy Tuttle
#90 Malcom Brown, nose tackle
#77 Jalen Dalton, nose tackle
#76 Malcolm Roach (rookie)
Stallworth was maybe the most surprising release of the bunch, owing to how much screen time he logged and a few bright moments during the last two seasons. And he still might come back if Dalton and Roach don’t make a great first impression, but Stallworth being out of the picture at least gives them both more of an opportunity. For now, the bigger question is whether Rankins is healthy enough to push Onyemata for reps on the first-team defense.
Linebackers (11)
#56 Demario Davis
#47 Alex Anzalone
#54 Kiko Alonso
#52 Craig Robertson
#55 Kaden Elliss
#50 Andrew Dowell
#42 Chase Hansen
#58 Anthony Chickillo
#53 Zack Baun (rookie)
#46 Joe Bachie (rookie)
## Nigel Bradham (number unassigned)
The Saints usually carry just seven or eight linebackers, so several good players will be left on the outside looking in after training camp. It could be someone with starting potential, like Alonso, or a likable backup trying to find their way on special teams (such as Elliss or Bachie). It’s rare to see three linebackers sharing the field at once in New Orleans, so opportunities are running at a premium; something has to give with so many solid options on hand.
Safeties (6)
#43 Marcus Williams
#22 C.J. Gardner-Johnson
#27 Malcolm Jenkins
#48 J.T. Gray
#36 D.J. Swearinger
#33 Saquan Hampton
There really isn’t much movement to be expected here, though Swearinger and Hampton should compete hard for snaps in training camp. Williams often leads the team in snaps played, and the coaching staff is eager to find out how Gardner-Johnson and Jenkins can be deployed together. Gray is an All-Pro special teams ace and has overcome longer odds before. Swearinger re-signing pushed Johnson off the roster, but can he hang in with last year’s training camp darling pushing him?
Cornerbacks (8)
#23 Marshon Lattimore
#20 Janoris Jenkins
#26 P.J. Williams
#21 Patrick Robinson
#34 Justin Hardee
#29 Johnson Bademosi
#38 Keith Washington Jr. (rookie)
#39 Tino Ellis (rookie)
There’s a real opportunity here for either of the rookies to make the roster; nothing is locked in outside the top four names, and even Robinson could be displaced if a younger, cheaper player impresses often enough. The Saints guaranteed a large portion of Washington’s contract, so they’re clearly intrigued. But he’ll have to outplay Hardee, Bademosi, and Ellis on special teams to make the cut. It’s surprising that Nichols was released without being given a shot, but maybe the Saints trust his XFL tape enough to call him back if need be.
#94 Cameron Jordan
#92 Marcus Davenport
#91 Trey Hendrickson
#97 Mario Edwards Jr.
#96 Carl Granderson
#69 Margus Hunt
Cumberlander was probably a long shot to make the team even before the Saints picked up Hunt in free agency, but the big veteran’s arrival shut the door on the rookie’s chances. Hunt will get to compete with Granderson and Edwards for snaps behind the top three ends, and his prototype size and extensive NFL experience might give him a leg up on the competition. The Saints have steadily cut down on Jordan’s snap counts in recent years, and Hunt would make sense as a go-to backup than the relatively-undersized Granderson or more-expensive Edwards.
Defensive tackles (6)
#93 David Onyemata
#98 Sheldon Rankins
#99 Shy Tuttle
#90 Malcom Brown, nose tackle
#77 Jalen Dalton, nose tackle
#76 Malcolm Roach (rookie)
Stallworth was maybe the most surprising release of the bunch, owing to how much screen time he logged and a few bright moments during the last two seasons. And he still might come back if Dalton and Roach don’t make a great first impression, but Stallworth being out of the picture at least gives them both more of an opportunity. For now, the bigger question is whether Rankins is healthy enough to push Onyemata for reps on the first-team defense.
Linebackers (11)
#56 Demario Davis
#47 Alex Anzalone
#54 Kiko Alonso
#52 Craig Robertson
#55 Kaden Elliss
#50 Andrew Dowell
#42 Chase Hansen
#58 Anthony Chickillo
#53 Zack Baun (rookie)
#46 Joe Bachie (rookie)
## Nigel Bradham (number unassigned)
The Saints usually carry just seven or eight linebackers, so several good players will be left on the outside looking in after training camp. It could be someone with starting potential, like Alonso, or a likable backup trying to find their way on special teams (such as Elliss or Bachie). It’s rare to see three linebackers sharing the field at once in New Orleans, so opportunities are running at a premium; something has to give with so many solid options on hand.
Safeties (6)
#43 Marcus Williams
#22 C.J. Gardner-Johnson
#27 Malcolm Jenkins
#48 J.T. Gray
#36 D.J. Swearinger
#33 Saquan Hampton
There really isn’t much movement to be expected here, though Swearinger and Hampton should compete hard for snaps in training camp. Williams often leads the team in snaps played, and the coaching staff is eager to find out how Gardner-Johnson and Jenkins can be deployed together. Gray is an All-Pro special teams ace and has overcome longer odds before. Swearinger re-signing pushed Johnson off the roster, but can he hang in with last year’s training camp darling pushing him?
Cornerbacks (8)
#23 Marshon Lattimore
#20 Janoris Jenkins
#26 P.J. Williams
#21 Patrick Robinson
#34 Justin Hardee
#29 Johnson Bademosi
#38 Keith Washington Jr. (rookie)
#39 Tino Ellis (rookie)
There’s a real opportunity here for either of the rookies to make the roster; nothing is locked in outside the top four names, and even Robinson could be displaced if a younger, cheaper player impresses often enough. The Saints guaranteed a large portion of Washington’s contract, so they’re clearly intrigued. But he’ll have to outplay Hardee, Bademosi, and Ellis on special teams to make the cut. It’s surprising that Nichols was released without being given a shot, but maybe the Saints trust his XFL tape enough to call him back if need be.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:20 am to GMoney2600
Hey! I can help.
Cut Jenkins.
Cut Jenkins.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:25 am to Giantkiller
Not going to happen. Regardless of all the recent shite that's happened...we still need him & the dead money hit would be astronomical if he's cut this year.
Jenkins will be here for the next 2 years at least. It is what it is.
Jenkins will be here for the next 2 years at least. It is what it is.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:45 am to GMoney2600
I had made this observation in another thread, but I think the Saints cut several players that they know could fit their system (Stallworth, TLL) as a COVID strategy. You need to see what you have in the rookies, so no reason to keep them around and rsik getting infected. If we have an issue with a DT or Returner getting COVID, you can always sign these guys back up
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:51 am to GMoney2600
quote:
Not going to happen. Regardless of all the recent shite that's happened...we still need him & the dead money hit would be astronomical if he's cut this year.
Jenkins will be here for the next 2 years at least. It is what it is.
Oh, he knew what he was doing. "I'm getting older but if I can make a big racial stink, they'll be FORCED to keep me..."
It's pretty smart.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 10:53 am to GMoney2600
Weirdly, I'm most curious to see how Tommy Stevens and Adam Trautman are doing.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:03 am to GMoney2600
Good analysis.
Get over it and stop bringing this shite into football threads.
quote:
Giantkiller
Get over it and stop bringing this shite into football threads.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:05 am to Fun Bunch
quote:
Weirdly, I'm most curious to see how Tommy Stevens and Adam Trautman are doing.
Same. Although I don't expect us to see much of Stevens at all this year, with a healthy Brees, and Winston as a backup, I expect Hill to slide back into the swiss army knife role more often and take those snaps.
I'll be closely watching Trautman and Ruiz for sure though.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:05 am to Fun Bunch
I think Tommy Stevens has a better chance to make the team than most people think. He's not stuck with competing against 1 position group. He just has to be more valuable to the team than the #4 RB, #6 WR, #10 OL. He does need to play ST though if he wants to make the team imo.
I think everyone wants to see Trautman.
I want to see the competition at DE. Hendrickson, Carl Granderson, & Margus Hunt. We might end up keeping all 3 if we have room. We actually need Margus Hunt's size & ability to stop the run. We got gashed against the run after Davenport got injured & replaced him with Hendrickson. Granderson & Hendrickson are straight up pass rushing specialists.
I'm curious to see if Tre'Quan Smith will finally breakout.
DJ Swearinger vs Saquan Hampton for the last roster spot at Safety. We probably can't keep both of them.
The LB group is going to be the best competition to watch. Older vets, players coming back from injury, & a few young guys. Anything could happen here.
Lastly, I want to see how good Ty Montgomery is in this offense. He plays ST as well, so he has a pretty good chance to make the team.
I think everyone wants to see Trautman.
I want to see the competition at DE. Hendrickson, Carl Granderson, & Margus Hunt. We might end up keeping all 3 if we have room. We actually need Margus Hunt's size & ability to stop the run. We got gashed against the run after Davenport got injured & replaced him with Hendrickson. Granderson & Hendrickson are straight up pass rushing specialists.
I'm curious to see if Tre'Quan Smith will finally breakout.
DJ Swearinger vs Saquan Hampton for the last roster spot at Safety. We probably can't keep both of them.
The LB group is going to be the best competition to watch. Older vets, players coming back from injury, & a few young guys. Anything could happen here.
Lastly, I want to see how good Ty Montgomery is in this offense. He plays ST as well, so he has a pretty good chance to make the team.
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 11:16 am
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:18 am to xXLSUXx
quote:
Same. Although I don't expect us to see much of Stevens at all this year, with a healthy Brees, and Winston as a backup, I expect Hill to slide back into the swiss army knife role more often and take those snaps.
This would matter if I thought they were treating him as a QB.
They are definitely thinking of grooming him to be a Hill-esque swiss army knife/athlete if they can. Practice Squad this year with the hope that he can be the Hill replacement when Hill either becomes a starter or moves on to try and be a starter elsewhere.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:21 am to GMoney2600
quote:
#88 Ty Montgomery Jr.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:25 am to Fun Bunch
I think there's a new rule for the Practice Squad in 2020. You can now stash 12 players instead of just 10.
The cool thing is that you can tag 4 players on your PS that can't be poached by other teams. I hope they keep this rule for next year. It really helps the Saints with roster management.
Some guys that I like to potentially be tagged on the PS
QB Tommy Stevens
OT Ethan Greenidge
OG Calvin Throckmorton
DT Malcolm Roach
DE Carl Granderson
LB Kaden Elliss
LB Joe Bachie
FS Saquan Hampton
The cool thing is that you can tag 4 players on your PS that can't be poached by other teams. I hope they keep this rule for next year. It really helps the Saints with roster management.
Some guys that I like to potentially be tagged on the PS
QB Tommy Stevens
OT Ethan Greenidge
OG Calvin Throckmorton
DT Malcolm Roach
DE Carl Granderson
LB Kaden Elliss
LB Joe Bachie
FS Saquan Hampton
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 11:27 am
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:46 am to GMoney2600
quote:
The cool thing is that you can tag 4 players on your PS that can't be poached by other teams.
Really??? I could see the Saints hiding a few guys like Ellis, Bachie & Stevens on the PS then. That makes things much more interesting.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 11:55 am to Suntiger
This article doesn't mention it, but we do have 12 PS spots instead of 10. LINK
The NFL’s COVID-19 practice squad rules explained
Few NFL institutions can match the 10-man practice squad. A group of players used to being described as “hard workers” or “gritty” or “company men.” There are those who linger on the fringe of 53-man rosters for depth, experience, and developmental talent. Their jobs are, for the most part, safe. Then there are those on the practice squad, on the outside looking in. Nothing comes easy for them. Everything is earned day to day, week to week, month to month.
Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anyone finding themselves on an NFL practice squad during the 2020 season is about to see their career path become even more difficult.
Most meaningful alterations for practice squad players center around effective COVID-19 testing. (That shouldn’t be a surprise, considering how teams like the Bears are implementing cautious training camps.) Since it takes time for accurate COVID-19 tests to process, any newly-signed player now has to wait longer to enter any one team’s facility. To prepare for any pitfalls arising out of this scenario in advance, practice squad rosters have been expanded. Certain players can also be protected from being poached away by competitors. In the event that there is a team outbreak, this is implemented to ensure a full roster is available by game-days.
If only it stayed this clear cut and dry throughout each of the new mandates. But nothing can be simple or black and white in a public health crisis.
The four players a team protects on its practice squad are not static. A coaching staff and general manager have until Tuesday afternoons to decide where their roster might be thin for the time being and act accordingly. While it hasn’t been stated outright, NFL teams are essentially getting the green light for 57-man rosters, with the last four players remaining more fluid. (Perhaps whenever the pandemic ceases, this may become a permanent change; especially if the NFL follows through on earnest plans for a 17-game season. More games equals more injuries equals more players needed around the fire.)
Sometimes new rules are about seeing the forest for the trees. Ultimately the NFL realized the reality of constant testing means that effective intra-squad player movement will almost be impossible this fall. Any player signed to a practice squad mid-week does not get to enter the facility until they’ve undergone a series of negative tests. This applies even if said player passed COVID-19 tests with their previous team but a day before joining their new squad. A new contract means a fresh health gauntlet to run through. No exceptions.
And with a fresh health gauntlet to run through on short notice, a new player does not get the benefit of on-field instruction. They instead see most of their introduction and ingratiation over virtual meeting means. For guys fighting for fickle contracts on a weekly basis, limited exposure could not make their goal of making a mark and sticking around long-term any harder. Players with a semblance of continuity and knowledge get the predictable upper hand.
Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The push through to the upcoming NFL season still feels desperate and unrealistic on health terms. Any more plans, like those concerning the nuances of the Mythical Practice Squad, have to be ironed out extensively before mid-September.
The NFL’s COVID-19 practice squad rules explained
Few NFL institutions can match the 10-man practice squad. A group of players used to being described as “hard workers” or “gritty” or “company men.” There are those who linger on the fringe of 53-man rosters for depth, experience, and developmental talent. Their jobs are, for the most part, safe. Then there are those on the practice squad, on the outside looking in. Nothing comes easy for them. Everything is earned day to day, week to week, month to month.
Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anyone finding themselves on an NFL practice squad during the 2020 season is about to see their career path become even more difficult.
Most meaningful alterations for practice squad players center around effective COVID-19 testing. (That shouldn’t be a surprise, considering how teams like the Bears are implementing cautious training camps.) Since it takes time for accurate COVID-19 tests to process, any newly-signed player now has to wait longer to enter any one team’s facility. To prepare for any pitfalls arising out of this scenario in advance, practice squad rosters have been expanded. Certain players can also be protected from being poached away by competitors. In the event that there is a team outbreak, this is implemented to ensure a full roster is available by game-days.
If only it stayed this clear cut and dry throughout each of the new mandates. But nothing can be simple or black and white in a public health crisis.
The four players a team protects on its practice squad are not static. A coaching staff and general manager have until Tuesday afternoons to decide where their roster might be thin for the time being and act accordingly. While it hasn’t been stated outright, NFL teams are essentially getting the green light for 57-man rosters, with the last four players remaining more fluid. (Perhaps whenever the pandemic ceases, this may become a permanent change; especially if the NFL follows through on earnest plans for a 17-game season. More games equals more injuries equals more players needed around the fire.)
Sometimes new rules are about seeing the forest for the trees. Ultimately the NFL realized the reality of constant testing means that effective intra-squad player movement will almost be impossible this fall. Any player signed to a practice squad mid-week does not get to enter the facility until they’ve undergone a series of negative tests. This applies even if said player passed COVID-19 tests with their previous team but a day before joining their new squad. A new contract means a fresh health gauntlet to run through. No exceptions.
And with a fresh health gauntlet to run through on short notice, a new player does not get the benefit of on-field instruction. They instead see most of their introduction and ingratiation over virtual meeting means. For guys fighting for fickle contracts on a weekly basis, limited exposure could not make their goal of making a mark and sticking around long-term any harder. Players with a semblance of continuity and knowledge get the predictable upper hand.
Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The push through to the upcoming NFL season still feels desperate and unrealistic on health terms. Any more plans, like those concerning the nuances of the Mythical Practice Squad, have to be ironed out extensively before mid-September.
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 11:56 am
Posted on 8/5/20 at 12:05 pm to GMoney2600
Will fix the order on some of these
quote:
9 Drew Brees
#2 Jameis Winston
#7 Taysom Hill
#1 Tommy Stevens (rookie)
quote:
Tight ends (4)
#87 Jared Cook
#89 Josh Hill#82 Adam Trautman (rookie)
#45 Garrett Griffin
quote:
Wide receivers (10)
#13 Michael Thomas
#17 Emmanuel Sanders
#10 Trequan Smith
#80 Austin Carr
#11 Deonte Harris
#84 Lil’Jordan Humphrey
#18 Emmanuel Butler
#12 Marquez Callaway (rookie)
#83 Juwan Johnson (rookie)
## Bennie Fowler (number unassigned)
quote:
#43 Marcus Williams
#27 Malcolm Jenkins
#22 CGJ
#48 J.T. Gray
#36 D.J. Swearinger
#33 Saquan Hampton
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 8/5/20 at 12:18 pm to GMoney2600
Practice squads increase from 12 to 14 players in 2022 through 2030 per the CBA
Also teams will be allowed to promote 1 or 2 PS guys to the active roster per game in addition to the 53, essentially extending the active roster from 53 to 54/55 guys. They can do this twice with a player before they’re subjected to the old CBA practice squad rules
Also teams will be allowed to promote 1 or 2 PS guys to the active roster per game in addition to the 53, essentially extending the active roster from 53 to 54/55 guys. They can do this twice with a player before they’re subjected to the old CBA practice squad rules
Posted on 8/5/20 at 12:21 pm to GMoney2600
I guess it will be a kept rule?
This post was edited on 8/5/20 at 12:23 pm
Posted on 8/5/20 at 2:29 pm to GMoney2600
Would not surprise me if the Saint kept no FBs this year. With Taysom and Montgomery (and even Stevens if he makes the roster), they could cover the FB duties as needed.
Posted on 8/5/20 at 3:26 pm to NOSHAU
I'd be surprised if CSP cuts Burton. He's a pretty good FB & makes vet league minimum.
Taysom is strong enough to play FB, but I don't think Montgomery has enough weight/muscle. He's a converted WR.
Josh Hill could probably play FB, but I think we keep Burton. CSP is 1 of the few coaches that actually values a FB.
Taysom is strong enough to play FB, but I don't think Montgomery has enough weight/muscle. He's a converted WR.
Josh Hill could probably play FB, but I think we keep Burton. CSP is 1 of the few coaches that actually values a FB.
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